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Month: March 2011

A child being born is truly a blessed event. However, before the arrival of that bundle of joy makes its grand entrance into the world, pain on a level unimaginable precedes the happy occurrence. As new life comes forth, the birth pains or contractions become deeper and more intense. This type of new birth can be found at many levels: Physical, Political, Economic, and even Spiritual.

At the risk of sounding environmental, the Earth is going through a birthing process of its own. Romans 8:19 states: “For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God”. This would correlate with the massive earthquake and tsunami that rocked Japan on 03-11-11. In other words, what the world witnessed in the physical, God is witnessing in the spiritual. It is time for the believer to make themselves manifest or to present themselves in the Earth realm.

Why? Creation since the Fall, has been under a curse and is looking for the rightful stewards to take their place. Who are the rightful stewards? It’s not the New Testament religious believer. It’s not the Jew holding tight-fisted to the Torah. It is the New Man that Paul talks about in Galatians 3:28 which says: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus”. Since God is the ultimate multi-tasker, the cleansing and purification process is taking place at the same time of the birthing.

Since all of this is going on simultaneously, it can be quite traumatic as well as confusing. This is where we must question ourselves, “Where is our focus”? Is it on the pain or on the anticipation of God finishing the work? While it is quite easy to focus on our pain, I would encourage you to push past the pain and let God complete His work in us. Part of that completion process is repentance. Something the Church in America has profusely resisted.

How? By not understanding that our rights and freedoms were not given to us government, but by God. Therefore everything God has given us we are required to steward properly. Luke 12:48 states, “…For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required…”. Please understand it is not the perfection of stewardship God is looking for, but our repentance when an error has been pointed out.

The time has come to put away ‘childish things” and for the Church in America to grow up. It is time for us to be sober and vigilant. Not just in the spiritual realm, but right here where we live. The persecution of the Church in America is fast approaching. Yet I see those in the pulpit as well as those in the pew fast asleep. Thinking that, “If say a prayer, go to church regularly, put something (less than 10%) in the offering, or preach some “canned” sermon that I picked up online, it will be “ok”. One thing we must understand in America; What we as Americans think is acceptable and what God thinks is acceptable are two different things.

What the world witnessed in Japan, is the Judgment of God on a nation. We in America had better wake up and take notice. Our nation is now hanging in the balance and judgment will be pronounced soon. If there is a day to wipe the “sleep” from our eyes, today is the day.

The Lord is coming for His church. Only those with discernment will be ready. To say to yourself that “I have time” is to lull yourself into a false sense of peace and safety. Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 5:3: “For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape”.

America is on the birthing table. God is bringing forth the contractions, and there is no epidural available. What will you do?

Most of us like music. Music appeals to our emotions and sets the mood for the environment we’re in. Some music is happy. Some is sad. Some will pump you up and cause you to focus, like at a sports game. Some music will set you in quiet place for prayer and meditation. In the Bible, many have heard of the Song of Solomon. Where the woman is waiting on her lover, and how excited she is when her lover comes.

Have you ever heard of the song of Moses? This is not a happy song. It is not a song to make one ponder or muse. It is a song of prophecy and of judgment. It is a song of soberness and of terror because the Church in America failed to hear and obey the Word of the Lord. Don’t believe me? Think that it’s not true? Think that why would an ever-loving God would pronounce judgment on a nation that propagates the Gospel such as America does? Think it can’t happen? Think again. In Deuteronomy 30:19-30 the text says:

Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel.

For when I shall have brought them into the land which I sware unto their fathers, that floweth with milk and honey; and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxen fat; then will they turn unto other gods, and serve them, and provoke me, and break my covenant.

And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are befallen them, that this song shall testify against them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination which they go about, even now, before I have brought them into the land which I sware.

Moses therefore wrote this song the same day, and taught it the children of Israel.

And he gave Joshua the son of Nun a charge, and said, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the land which I sware unto them: and I will be with thee.

And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished,

That Moses commanded the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying,

Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.

For I know thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, ye have been rebellious against the LORD; and how much more after my death?

Gather unto me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears, and call heaven and earth to record against them.

For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because ye will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands.

And Moses spake in the ears of all the congregation of Israel the words of this song, until they were ended.

Although this is primarily toward the children of Israel, there is no doubt that this is applicable to the Church in America. Note verse 21 that says:

“And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are befallen them, that this song shall testify against them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination which they go about, even now, before I have brought them into the land which I sware”.

Remember, the Lord was not speaking to the heathen. He was speaking to those in the covenant of promise. We have broken that covenant because we have forgotten where the blessings came from, and have neglected to give honor, worship and praise to the Source of all of them.

There is very little time left. The Church Age is rapidly coming to a close. All the signs are around us. We must repent while we have breath in our bodies. For remember, you last breath here on Earth is your first breath in eternity. To exhale for the last time without repentance is a sure sign that you will see fires that are never quenched and worms that don’t die. As I have stated before, the hour is that late, and the situation is that serious.

In the 1980s, a punk rock group called the Clash made this phrase famous. It is the same question that the Church in America should be asking themselves. In II Peter 3:3-5 Peter writes:

“Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:”

Notice the text says “walking after their own lusts” and not which side of the fence of salvation the person is standing on. Which means this text could easily apply to the believer as well as the unbeliever. It reminds me of the passage: “How shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. (see Hebrews 2:3)

It is very apparent to me that the Lord’s coming is near. Not so much due to the activity of the world, but the inactivity in the Church. How? When we are more concerned about our favorite team’s status then laws being passed to curtail or even outlaw our faith; When the raising of funds is more important than the raising of righteous leaders in our government; Where the Anointing and convicting power of the Holy Spirit is replaced with a feel good psycho-analytical talk for 20-25 min in the pulpit, His coming is near even at the door (see Mark 13:29).

This is not a call to prayer and fasting – although it may include that. This is not a call to be politically active – although it may include that. This is not a call to evangelism – although it may include that. What this is, is a call to repentance. Not a “canned” II Chronicles 7:14 type of repentance. I mean a truly heart-felt, gut wrenching, repentance that you recognize what you have done to the Lord of Glory and you are truly sorry for it. For those are in leadership, let me be clear: This type of repentance does not start with the people, nor should it be a private affair. To the degree of brokenness that can be found in a church is a reflection of how openly broken the leadership is. Contrary to what you heard in seminary, brokenness is a beautiful thing. The world may say, “Never let them see you sweat”. However, the Lord would say, “Always stay broken toward Me and the people”. It is in this brokenness that His Grace will appear. For Scripture says: “…My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness…”. (see II Corinthians 2:9)

I believe it is time to truly get our affairs in order. Not just social and political, for they important. But our spiritual affairs as well. Our time here is short, for the days are truly evil. Let’s redeem the time as much as we can through our obedience to His Word. In Matthew 24:40-41:

“Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left”.